UKaid Commits £30million to Sierra Leone

The UK governmenthas announced a new £30millionprogramme to boost trade, investment and job creation in Sierra Leone.The programme will target the agriculture, tourism and fisheries industries, helping to build a more diverse economy, andsupporting Sierra Leone to access international markets.This will play a key part in spurring sustainable economic growth for the people of Sierra Leone.
The programme,called Invest Salone,will work with the government to reduce the cost of doing business in Sierra Leone, helping to attract responsible, long-term investors.It will also harness the capabilities and resources of the private sector, creating jobs and growing household incomes across the country.
Invest Salone was announced by the UK’s Africa Minister Harriett Baldwin at the UKaid-supported UK-Sierra Leone Investment Forum.The Forum took place in London on 6 June to promote trade and investment links between the two countries.
The Forum was attended by over 300 delegates, including His Excellency the President Julius Maada Bio, British High Commissioner Guy Warrington, and Rachel Turner, Director for Economic Development at the UK’s Department for International Development.The Forum shared latest information on the country’s economy, and demonstrated the wealth of investment opportunities available in Sierra Leone.
The UK’s Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin said:
“I am very pleased to announce the UK’s new £30million programme that will catalyse investment into the President’s priority sectors.The programme will support firms and the Government to realise the benefits of international trade.I am delighted that its first activity has been this incredibly successful Investment Forum.”
The UK will also host an Africa Investment Summit in January 2020. This will bring together businesses, governments and international institutions to promote the breadth and quality of investment opportunities across Africa, and unlock this potential to deliver more exports, jobs and economic growth.